Mountaineers' Liam aiming to scale heights

HAMPSHIRE star Liam Dawson will be embarking on an African adventure this winter as he takes his talents to Zimbabwean cricket franchise the Mountaineers.

The 21-year-old Goatacre all-rounder, from Calne, has signed on as the East Zimbabwean club’s overseas player and is due to fly out later this month to link up with his new teammates.

Former Wiltshire player Dawson’s heroic century against Warwickshire in the final match of the County Championship season last week wasn’t enough to prevent Hampshire’s relegation to the second division, but he’s excited by the prospect of broadening his horizons playing abroad this winter.

“Sean Ervine (Hampshire teammate) played there last year and it’s a new experience for me,” said Dawson, who also made six appearances for Goatacre last season as they lifted the West of England Premier League’s Glos/Wilts Division title.

“I’m away on holiday next week but I’m flying out as soon as I’m back – I’ll be back home for Christmas but then in Zimbabwe for another five or six weeks.

“I’ve never been over there before but I’ve got to be prepared because there’s extra pressure and responsibility as an overseas player.

“You’ve got to prove that you’re good enough to take their overseas place – there should be a few other players from England out there too.”

Gazette & Herald columnist Dawson is already focussed on returning in top form for Hampshire next season and thinks that the club will be placing their faith in their young players as they look to bounce straight back to the top division of county cricket.

“It was nice to get a century against Warwickshire because first class centuries are always special but we didn’t get relegated because of that game – it was because of a spell earlier in the season where we weren’t playing good cricket,” he said.

“There’s big changes at the club and they’re looking to back the young players so we’ve all got to do well next year.”